Former President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Dr. Shahid Rasheed Butt on Wednesday said the country is facing the worst nutritional, educational and psychological crisis due to increasing inflation and shrinking income.
Managing food has become a problem for the majority of the population as profiteers and hoarders have been given a free hand, he said.
Shahid Rasheed Butt said that people are taking children out of school and putting them to work to get some additional income to survive.
People all across the country are facing problems, but the worst situation is in the former FATA and in Balochistan.
The business leader said that hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity have become common in the country. On one hand, the World Food Organization is saying that at least fifteen million people in Pakistani need immediate help to fill their stomachs and seven million children need emergency nutrition.
While on the other hand, the elites have looted the treasury, therefore the public cannot be provided with any facilities including treatment, education, and clean drinking water.
Shahid Rashid Butt said that falsification of inflation and poverty data does not reduce inflation in the country and for this practical steps will have to be taken, which is not possible at the moment because politicians and several important institutions are engaged in the battle for power.
Bangladesh has substantially improved food security, food diversity, maternal and reproductive health.
The Bangladesh government is providing clean drinking water, education and proper sanitation and vitamins are added to flour, rice and edible oil for public health, while the situation in Pakistan is different.
The largest population and the largest number of flour mills are in Punjab, where essential nutrients are not added in the flour, he informed.
